Discrimination In The Name of Religion

Religious freedom is about fairness. No one’s religion should be used to harm others.

Religion is often used as an excuse to discriminate against LGBTQ people, women, religious minorities, non-believers and others. Some want to use their religious beliefs as an excuse to deny health care, refuse to provide goods and services, and disobey laws protecting Americans from discrimination.

Americans United is fighting for equality, fairness and religious freedom and we are standing up to those who would harm others in the name of religion.

Protect thy Neighbor

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AU President and CEO Rachel Laser told the Associated Press, "This is a problem that the government has caused. If Miracle Hill were a private entity not accepting state and federal money, then they could decide with their private money whom they served. Aimee isn’t the right kind of Christian, so they don’t serve her.”

Aimee Maddonna, a Catholic mother of three, was rejected by Miracle Hill Ministries, a taxpayer-funded foster care agency in South Carolina, solely because she is not "the right kind of Christian." Americans United won’t allow the narrow religious beliefs of a government-funded agency to override the best interest of America’s most vulnerable children or our fundamental principle of religious freedom.

“It was demoralizing to hear we are not good enough because we aren’t the right kind of Christians. It was difficult for my family, of course, but at the end of the day my kids still have parents,” said Aimee Maddonna, AU's plaintiff. “These foster children need and deserve to have someone looking out for them – and the government is taking that away. These children are still in an institution. That isn’t right, it isn’t fair and it isn’t necessary.”